Toy construction element with moving members

Abstract

Embodiments provide a toy construction element having an outer shell and moving members that can extend from and retract into openings in a face of the outer shell. The toy construction element may have a plurality of pegs for attaching to other engagement elements (e.g., blocks or figurines) and the openings may each be centered with respect to a 2×2 arrangement of pegs on the face. The moving members may be in contact with an actuating member, e.g., opposing arms of a rocking member. As one moving member is pushed down the rocking member may lift the other moving member. Upon attaching an engagement element to the toy construction element, one moving member can be pushed down to force up the other moving member so that the engagement element is released. Other actuating members may be used, such as push-rods or camshafts.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A toy construction block, comprising:
 an outer shell including a face; 
 a plurality of pegs projecting from the face and arranged in a matrix; and 
 a moving member positioned at a location between the pegs of the matrix, 
 wherein the moving member is configured to move along a translation axis that is substantially perpendicular to the face of the outer shell, between a retracted position and an extended position, 
 wherein a first peg, a second peg, a third peg, and a fourth peg of the plurality of pegs project from the face and are arranged in a square configuration, 
 wherein the face of the outer shell defines an opening that is disposed centrally to the square configuration of the first peg, the second peg, the third peg, and the fourth peg, 
 wherein the moving member is configured to slide through the opening, and move along the translation axis between the retracted position and the extended position, 
 wherein the outer shell has an inner surface on a side of the outer shell opposite to the face, 
 wherein the opening extends from the face to the inner surface, and 
 wherein the toy construction block further comprises a plurality of ribs extending through an interior of the outer shell, each rib of the plurality of ribs being substantially aligned with a perimeter of the opening to guide the moving member. 
 
     
     
       2. The toy construction block of  claim 1 , wherein a first rib and a second rib are spaced apart around the perimeter of the opening to form a slot extending in a direction substantially parallel with the translation axis, and
 wherein the moving member includes a tab that fits into the slot. 
 
     
     
       3. The toy construction block of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is substantially circular,
 wherein the plurality of ribs includes a first rib, a second rib, a third rib, and a fourth rib spaced apart around the perimeter of the opening and defining a cylindrical region, 
 wherein the moving member includes a first tab that fits into a first slot between the first rib and the second rib, 
 wherein the moving member includes a second tab that fits into a second slot between the second rib and the third rib, 
 wherein the moving member includes a third tab that fits into a third slot between the third rib and the fourth rib, 
 wherein the toy construction block further comprises a rocking member engaging the moving member, and 
 wherein an arm of the rocking member extends between the first rib and the fourth rib. 
 
     
     
       4. A toy construction block, comprising:
 an outer shell including a face; 
 a plurality of pegs projecting from the face and arranged in a matrix; and 
 a moving member positioned at a location between the pegs of the matrix, 
 wherein the moving member is configured to move along a translation axis that is substantially perpendicular to the face of the outer shell, between a retracted position and an extended position, 
 wherein a first peg, a second peg, a third peg, and a fourth peg of the plurality of pegs project from the face and are arranged in a square configuration, 
 wherein the face of the outer shell defines an opening that is disposed centrally to the square configuration of the first peg, the second peg, the third peg, and the fourth peg, 
 wherein the moving member is configured to slide through the opening, and move along the translation axis between the retracted position and the extended position, 
 wherein the plurality of pegs includes a fifth peg, a sixth peg, a seventh peg, and an eighth peg projecting from the face and arranged in a square configuration, 
 wherein the opening is a first opening and wherein the outer shell includes a second opening in the face that is disposed centrally to the square configuration of the fifth peg, the sixth peg, the seventh peg, and the eighth peg, and 
 wherein the moving member is a first moving member and wherein the toy construction block includes a second moving member configured to slide through the second opening in directions substantially parallel with the translation axis, between a retracted position and an extended position. 
 
     
     
       5. The toy construction block of  claim 4 , further comprising a rocking member having a first arm, a second arm, and a rotational axis disposed between the first arm and the second arm,
 wherein the first moving member is in contact with the first arm, 
 wherein the second moving member is in contact with the second arm, 
 wherein pushing the first moving member in a retracting direction causes the first moving member to push the first arm of the rocking member in the retracting direction, the rocking member to rotate about the rotational axis, and the second arm to push the second moving member in an extending direction generally opposite to the retracting direction, and 
 wherein pushing the second moving member in the retracting direction causes the second moving member to push the second arm of the rocking member in the retracting direction, the rocking member to rotate about the rotational axis, and the first arm to push the first moving member in the extending direction. 
 
     
     
       6. The toy construction block of  claim 5 , wherein the first arm includes a round distal portion that contacts the first moving member,
 wherein the second arm includes a round distal portion that contacts the second moving member, 
 wherein the first moving member includes a first cut-out that receives the round distal portion of the first arm, and 
 wherein the second moving member includes a second cut-out that receives the round distal portion of the second arm. 
 
     
     
       7. The toy construction block of  claim 6 , wherein the first moving member includes a first rounded surface extending to the first cut-out,
 wherein the first rounded surface cooperates with the round distal portion of the first arm of the rocking member to maintain constant contact between the first moving member and the rocking member, 
 wherein the second moving member includes a second rounded surface extending to the second cut-out, and 
 wherein the second rounded surface cooperates with the round distal portion of the second arm of the rocking member to maintain constant contact between the second moving member and the rocking member. 
 
     
     
       8. The toy construction block of  claim 5 , wherein the outer shell has a retaining element on an interior of the outer shell,
 wherein the rocking member includes a pivot protrusion that extends from an intermediate portion of the rocking member and is aligned with the rotational axis, and 
 wherein the pivot protrusion is held in place by the retaining element so that the rocking member is rotatable about the rotational axis. 
 
     
     
       9. A toy construction block, comprising:
 an outer shell including a face; 
 a plurality of pegs projecting from the face and arranged in a matrix; and 
 a moving member positioned at a location between the pegs of the matrix, 
 wherein the moving member is configured to move along a translation axis that is substantially perpendicular to the face of the outer shell, between a retracted position and an extended position, 
 wherein the plurality of pegs is configured for insertion into openings of an engagement element, and 
 wherein, when the moving member moves from the retracted position to the extended position, the moving member is configured to engage a portion of the engagement element and to disengage the engagement element from the toy construction block. 
 
     
     
       10. The toy construction block of  claim 9 , wherein the moving member has a circular end portion that is configured to contact the portion of the engagement element. 
     
     
       11. A toy construction block, comprising:
 an outer shell including a face; 
 a plurality of pegs projecting from the face and arranged in a matrix; 
 a moving member positioned at a location between the pegs of the matrix; and 
 an actuating member comprising a camshaft, 
 wherein the moving member is configured to move along a translation axis that is substantially perpendicular to the face of the outer shell, between a retracted position and an extended position, and 
 wherein rotation of the actuating member causes the camshaft to push the moving member toward the extended position. 
 
     
     
       12. The toy construction block of  claim 11 , wherein the actuating member defines a rotational axis,
 wherein the face is a first face, 
 wherein the first face faces a first direction radial to the rotational axis, 
 wherein the outer shell includes a second face that faces in a second direction radial to the rotational axis that is different from the first direction, 
 wherein a second plurality of pegs projects from the second face and is arranged in a second matrix, 
 wherein a second moving member is positioned at a location between the pegs of the second matrix, 
 wherein the second moving member is configured to move along a second translation axis that is substantially perpendicular to the second face of the outer shell, between a retracted position and an extended position, and 
 wherein rotation of the actuating member causes the camshaft to push the second moving member along the second translation axis toward the extended position of the second moving member. 
 
     
     
       13. The toy construction block of  claim 11 , wherein the camshaft comprises a cam with multiple extended portions, and
 wherein, as the actuating member rotates, each extended portion of the multiple extended portions pushes the moving member. 
 
     
     
       14. A toy construction system comprising:
 an actuating block including:
 an outer shell including a face, 
 a plurality of pegs projecting from the face and arranged in a matrix, and 
 a moving member positioned at a location between pegs of the matrix, 
 wherein the moving member is configured to move along a translation axis that is substantially perpendicular to the face of the outer shell, between a retracted position and an extended position; and 
 
 an engagement element defining at least one opening for receiving a peg of the matrix of pegs; 
 wherein the engagement element is configured to be attached to the actuating block by receiving in each opening of the at least one opening of the engagement element a respective peg of the matrix of pegs, 
 wherein the moving member is aligned with an end portion of the engagement element when the engagement element is attached to the actuating block; and 
 wherein the engagement element detaches from the actuating block when the moving member moves along the translation axis from the retracted position to the extended position. 
 
     
     
       15. The toy construction system of  claim 14 , wherein:
 a first peg, a second peg, a third peg, and a fourth peg of the plurality of pegs project from the face and are arranged in a square configuration, 
 the face of the outer shell defines a first opening that is disposed centrally to the square configuration of the first peg, the second peg, the third peg, and the fourth peg, and 
 the moving member is configured to slide through the first opening of the face, and move along the translation axis between the retracted position and the extended position. 
 
     
     
       16. The toy construction system of  claim 15 , wherein the engagement element includes an outer wall and an interior wall spaced inwardly of the outer wall,
 wherein the outer wall and the interior wall define the at least one opening for receiving a peg of the matrix of pegs, 
 wherein the interior wall of the engagement element has a cylindrical geometry, 
 wherein the end portion of the engagement element comprises an annular surface of the interior wall, and 
 wherein an end portion of the moving member has an annular surface that contacts the annular surface of the interior wall. 
 
     
     
       17. The toy construction system of  claim 15 , wherein the outer shell includes a fifth peg, a sixth peg, a seventh peg, and an eighth peg projecting from the face and arranged in a square configuration,
 wherein the outer shell includes a second opening in the face that is disposed centrally to the square configuration of the fifth peg, the sixth peg, the seventh peg, and the eighth peg, 
 wherein the moving member is a first moving member and wherein the actuating block includes a second moving member configured to slide through the second opening in directions parallel with the translation axis, between a retracted position and an extended position, 
 wherein the engagement element is a first engagement element, 
 wherein the toy construction system further includes a second engagement element, 
 wherein the fifth peg, the sixth peg, the seventh peg, and the eighth peg are configured for insertion into openings of the second engagement element, and 
 wherein the second moving member is configured to engage an end portion of the second engagement element. 
 
     
     
       18. The toy construction system of  claim 17 , wherein the actuating block further includes a rocking member having a first arm, a second arm, and a rotational axis disposed between the first arm and the second arm,
 wherein the first moving member is in contact with the first arm, 
 wherein the second moving member is in contact with the second arm, and 
 wherein, with the second engagement element attached to the fifth peg, the sixth peg, seventh peg, and eighth peg of the actuating block, attaching the first engagement element to the first peg, the second peg, the third peg, and the fourth peg of the actuating block causes the first engagement element to push the first moving member in a retracting direction, the first moving member to push the first arm of the rocking member in the retracting direction, the rocking member to rotate about the rotational axis, the second arm to push the second moving member in an extending direction opposite to the retracting direction, and the second moving member to propel the second engagement element off of the actuating block. 
 
     
     
       19. The toy construction system of  claim 14 , further comprising a rod that engages a recessed portion of the moving member of the actuating block. 
     
     
       20. A toy construction system, comprising:
 an actuating construction element including:
 an outer shell including a face, 
 a plurality of pegs, each peg projecting substantially perpendicularly from the face of the outer shell to an upper surface of the each peg, 
 wherein the face of the outer shell and the upper surfaces of the plurality of pegs define parallel outer surfaces of the outer shell, and 
 a moving member configured to move along a translation axis that is substantially perpendicular to the face of the outer shell, between a retracted position and an extended position with respect to an outer surface of the parallel outer surfaces; and 
 
 an engagement construction element defining at least one opening for receiving a peg of the plurality of pegs; 
 wherein the engagement construction element is configured to be attached to the actuating element by receiving in each opening of the at least one opening of the engagement construction element a respective peg of the matrix of pegs, 
 wherein the moving member is aligned with an end portion of the engagement construction element when the engagement construction element is attached to the actuating construction element; and 
 wherein the engagement construction element is detachable from the actuating construction element by moving the moving member along the translation axis beyond the outer surface and to the extended position.